"We came here to help innocent people, " Danny retorts. "Or did you already forget about that little ruse of yours? And really, inter-dimensional demons? A killer robot or two would have been more your style, Tony."

"Maybe we fight demons now, argue law later?" Alexei asked nobody in particular. Talks of law made his head hurt, but demons he understood. They were big, mean, ugly, and needed to be smashed. Alexei was good at smashing. "Law not important if all are dead."

"Not Jen, HULK."  The Hulk yells at Iron Man.

Her normal voice is pretty loud.  Her yell?  It's best to have ear protection.

"SHIELD asked me to come, stop incursion.  You trying to trick me?"

Growing worried with each tense exchange, Polaris sent a message over the Tallus. They’re not listening! Everyone’s freaked out and itching for a fight. Sue, if you hear me, we need you here.

Gwen pulls at Harry's arm.  "Harry, is that the Goblin girl?"  She points to She-Hulk.  She is the only green one in the square.  "The one that did that to the Scorpion.  She's pulling in my head.

Please don't freak out, about the spiders."

The eyes on her mask blink.

"What 'goblin girl'? The only goblins I know about are me and my father and... oh." He tugs on Peter's sleeve and whispers something in his ear. If Harry even notices the spiders crawling across his ruined three-piece suit, he pays them no mind.

Peter leans uncomfortably close to Gwen to cover his intense scrutiny of the crowd. He whispers, "The X-Men fought a Goblin Queen once, a long time ago. She stole Scott and Jean's newborn son and summoned an army of demons to cover her escape. Harry and I have never dealt with her personally... but we have some enemies in common. Like the archdemon these goons belonged to. Keep your eyes peeled for an evil redhead who didn't know if she was supposed to dress up for a 'D&D dungeon' or a 'sex dungeon'."

Gwen thinks she might have spotted her-- though she's wearing a very sensible green hoodie, with the hood pulled up over her fire-engine red hair. She can feel the pull radiating from her, and her stare

So can Eddie. His symbiote is visibly disturbed, though clearly not to the same degree Mac's was.

*I'm here!* Susan told Sally through the Tallus, coming to a stop some distance off, and parking the motorcycle.

And then she was running toward the gathering.    Part of her was madly relieved there was no demon horde left to contest with.

And, another part thought this situation worse.  At least, with the demon horde, there were clear cut bad guys.   Yet maybe something could be done with that -- given that there weren't really any bad guys.

She approached the others, standing near Sally and addressing Stark.   It was time for blunt honesty:

"Listen man, and really dig this!  I'm not the Sue Richards you know.  Just like these others," she swept the group with a gesture, "are not the people you know.  We've been pulled out of disparate realities, to try and prevent a full out calamity here!   To prevent unnecessary tragedy!  Say 'hi' to Mr. Stark, Tallus!" Sue held up the Tallus, so it could do so.  "Tell him you're the Encyclopedia Britannica of the Multiverse!"

"You know Mr. Stark, where I come from, your father Howard is the president of the USA.   And a pretty darn good one, all things considered.   Do you know what he's known for, among other things?   Instituting the Forum Harmonious. Where members of the Democratic and Republican national committees are obliged to meet every month, and discuss only those things they can agree on.   And, you'd be amazed how much more effective that is, than bickering over petty differences." 

Sue added:   "You know, in my world, you're a hero called the Iron Thing. To the eye, no longer flesh and blood, no longer human. But, your heart is entirely human;  in a way it never was, while you were an egotistical, un-empathetic  jetsetter, known for never wanting to listen to anybody," she nodded. "You had to learn some things the hard way, in my world, alright.  Things you could learn much easier, right here and now -- if you'd only listen."   
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

Gwen doesn't know who any of those people are.  Maybe she heard Sally mention the X-men.  But it doesn't really matter.  She whispers back.  "So, kinda like MJ in the movie we watched last night."  As Sue gives her speech, she adds "That's not Doctor Doom.  Totally different Sue Storm.

She's over there in the green hoodie.  Really need her to stop what she's doing, keeps pulling me towards her.

It soon becomes more apparent what 'don't freak out about the spiders' meant, or the fact that cloth masks don't typically blink as Gwen's costume starts shifting, with a swarm of tiny spiders crawling around for every change while her appearance slowly moves to one that Venom is most comfortable with.  Black leather with protruding spikes on the hood and the shoulders, plus a rather disturbing tongue


"I thought you'd freak out about the symbiote, sorry I didn't say anything.
She set a trap for you... you heard what Scorpion said."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

The Tallus is... less helpful than Sue had hoped, merely chirping despondently.

Iron Man takes his helmet off to address Sally and Sue personally.

"I don't want to be here anymore than you do, fighting my friends. I know Steve and Luke don't want to fight me. But if it's not here and now, it's going be soon. I have to answer to SHIELD now... to the American public who have demanded that we no longer flout the rule of law and use our powers without accountability." He pauses and confirms something with Bullseye. "There's going to be a Hell of a mess to clean up here. And if this wasn't the calamity your... Tallus is warning you about, I can tell SHIELD and I can tell the Daily Bugle that wanted fugitive Steve Rogers helped stop the literal forces of Hell from invading Manhattan and slipped away in the chaos afterwards."

He frowns.

"Once. I can tell them that once, and then the next time I see him, he either comes in quietly-- like I'm begging him to do now-- or I'm going to have to throw absolutely everything I have at him to bring him in because if I don't... next time you'll be having this conversation with Norman Osborn."


"We've got a minute. As long as nobody tries to leave, we can talk for--" he stops mid-sentence and points at Gwen, "-- hey, is your friend okay? She doesn't look okay."

In reply to Timebroker (msg # 23):


"You sure we're not already talking to him?" Danny snorts. He nods his head toward Bullseye. "Turning a psychotic killer like him into one of your lackeys... That's a move straight out of the supervillain playbook, Iron Man."

Danny didn't mean to escalate, especially with the girls doing their best to talk things out. But even a zen practitioner had his limits, and being thrust into this strange upside-down world had him as on edge as ever. He glanced over at Wade and Tigro to try and get a read on what they were thinking.

Bullseye takes the bait, ignoring Iron Man and Spider-Woman. "Hey, asshole, I might be a total psycho and a cold-blooded killer, but I am nobody's lackey. This is me going straight. I'm going to be a superhero. Hell, I'm gonna be an Avenger."

This, at least, gets Tony's attention. His helmet falls from nerveless fingers as he turns to Bullseye in horror. At the same time, you hear a metallic clatter as Captain America's shield hits the pavement.

"You're going to be a what? Over my dead body."

At least they can agree on something today.

Bullseye takes 1d6 Emotional Stress and I'm adding 1d6 to the Doom Pool.

Did you want to roll that as an attack on Stark? Promise, that won't increase the Doom Pool.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:36, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

"What did I miss?" Funnybone came roaring up on his hell-cycle, confused at what he was seeing. "Don't tell me all you've been doing is talking? What happened to all the punching and eye-gouging?"

He looked around, mostly at the crowd of onlookers.

"Goblin. Girl." He said this angrily, and the fires of hell could be heard crackling in his voice. "Why has nobody done anything about the goblin girl?"

Sure, I'll roll that as an emotional attack on Tony.

Living Weapon d8
Freedom d10
Psych Expert 2d6

06:38, Today: Iron Fist rolled 5,10,5,4 using 1d8,1d10,1d6,1d6.  Danny shaming Iron Man for recruiting Bullseye to his cause.

Total: 15
Effect: d8
Opps: 0
PP's: 1

"One big happy family, huh?" Danny says. "Sure, let's talk it out, go for a little stroll... maybe have a picnic in one of the graveyards he's filled?"

Having made his point, Danny watches Stark's reaction as he allows the weight of his words to sink in. Bullseye wasn't just any random mercenary who killed for money, he was the kind who'd talk your ear off about how much he enjoyed it. He'd hurt people Danny cared about, so for the Iron Fist, this was about as personal as it got. He might be forgiven if he was starting to forget the bigger picture of why the eXiles were here.

Edit: Added some dialogue and changed past/present tense.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

08:39, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Tony Stark, rolled 7,6 using 1d8,1d8, unique dice ((7,6)).

13/d8. Tony takes d8 Emotional Stress.

"When half the superheroes in New York swap out their regular masks for Guy Fawkes, someone has to be the adult in the room. The rest of us don't have vacation homes in Kung Fu Neverland to ride this out in; we still have work to do, and I'd rather help a killer like Bullseye pay his debt to society than feel better about myself for letting him dig it deeper."

Tony retaliates. He doesn't have much to work with here, but I figure K'un Lun Exile is a nice bleeding wound... even if he doesn't realize how much bloodier it is, compared to his Danny.

08:58, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Tony Stark, rolled 2,5,1 using 1d8,1d8,1d8, unique dice ((2,5,1)).

That's a 7/d4.

Susan glanced apprehensively at Gwen's transformation, but nodded as reassuringly as she could "Yes, she's okay.  They're friendly.  Mostly.  Depends on how you feed them, I understand."   

She didn't know Bullseye from Bullspucky, but he must be serious low life for Cap to react that way...

She spread her hands, "Please, let's put all the grievances of the past...pasts, I should say, aside, right?  All of that stuff can be reckoned later," she looked to Danny.  "And thank you, Mr. Stark.  Chaos and conflict between two sides is often manufactured.  In a way that serves a third, non-apparent party.   I'd lay my last penny someone is watching all this, feeling smug, and laughing.  So what about SHIELD?  Where I come from, organizations like that sometimes get infiltrated, and become vehicles for something else.  I spoke with the Reed Richards of your world, and he told me his wife, the Sue of this world, could probably get inside info about SHIELD if I had suspicions about their motives.   How about that?  How about if I - or someone - goes and speaks with her?"   
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

"I'm fine.  Goblin Queen.  Green hoodie."

Huh, she kinda looks like a budget Dr. Doom dressed like that.  "She wants a symbiote, didn't know there were three here."

Sue was talking, and yet somehow Funnybone was the one who was invisible. Had she completely ignored his warnings? Seemed like it. It also seemed like the goblin girl was the third party she was so blindly yapping about.

"We're going to have to revisit the question of who's in charge around here," he muttered. "Because this is ridiculous, even by my standards."

Well, if the Goblin was hiding in the crowd, then the best way to flush her out would be to get rid of the crowd. Funnybone turned to face the throngs of onlookers, and unleashed a burst of hellfire. It wasn't enough to roast anyone — or even reach the crowd — but it would scare the crap out of them.


Emotional Attack on crowd

Duty d8
Spirit of Vengeance d8
Hellfire blast d10
SFX: Area Attack -- Add a d6 and keep one additional effect die for each extra target.
(I'll add additional dice if directed to by Timebroker.)
Menace Grandmaster d12

Funnybone rolled 2,1,3,4,5 using d8,d8,d10,d6,d12 ((2,1,3,4,5)).

Total: 9
Effect: d10, d8
+1 Opportunity

Man, that was a shitty roll.

Iron Fist reacts to Iron Man's emotional attack.

K'un-Lun Exile d4 (Tony hit a nerve)
Violence d4 (Remembering his bloody past)

I'll leave out Psych Expert, with Danny caught off-guard by the K'un-Lun jab.

09:26, Today: Iron Fist rolled 4,4 using 1d4,1d4.  Danny reacts to Tony's verbal jab.

Total: 8
Effect: d4 (default)
Opps: 0
PP's: 2

Anger flares up in Danny's gut. If Tony only knew what he was saying, he wouldn't have said it. But that was just it-- he didn't know what Danny, or any of them, had been through in their time. Not really. Maybe, if things calmed down-- and the murdering psychopaths left the scene-- the heroes could all get on the same page. Sue's entreaty already has Danny feeling guilty for his outburst-- damn, if that motherly shtick of hers wasn't effective at keeping them all in line.

"This is the only family-- the only home-- I've got left," replies the Fist, gesturing to his friends. "So I'll listen to what they think is best-- not you, not SHIELD, or any of these jackbooted thugs working for you."

"But I'm telling you right now," he continues. "Some people may change--" He jabs a finger at Bullseye. "Not him. This is reckless, Tony, even for you."

Funnybone, take the Plot Point for the Opportunity; I'm stepping the d8 in the DOOM POOL up to d10. I'm not going to oppose your check, so you and Gwen have "Element of Surprise" d8 for the first panel only.

Gwen goes first, because you set her up-- for the first panel, it's you, her, and Madelyne. Starting with the next panel, everyone's in the mix.

The crowd, just starting to feel safe again, scatters before Funnybone's display of hellish might, leaving Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen exposed and unprepared. She barely has time to levitate and catch fire before Gwen seizes the initiative.

NEXT: Spider-Woman

ACTIONS REMAINING:
Funnybone
Goblin Queen

Gwen uses a webline to swing in and tackle the Goblin Queen as she rises into the air.  Maybe jumped a little too early, as she catches on fire while Gwen is in midair.

That makes things more complicated when Gwen crashes into her.

Home d6 (protecting Peter and her symbiote), Rushing the Beat (d4 - should have checked about the fire), swingline d8, acrobatics d12, sfx Whatever a Spider Can - add D6 when using acrobatics

14:10, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 2,3,1,12,2 using d8,d4,d8,d12,d6.  home, rushing (d4), swingline, acrobatics,sfx: WaSC.
14:49, Today: Spider-Woman rolled 4 using 1d8.  element of surprise.

Total: 16
Effect: d6,d8(spending PP from Distinction for additional effect die)
Opps: 1
PP: 3
edit: adding element of surprise d8


Next up: Funnybone

Remaining:  Funnybone, Goblin Queen
This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

Tires squealed on asphalt, unleashing a cloud of foul-smelling smoke as the hell-cycle leaped forward. Funnybone cackled with manic delight, and as he streaked past the floating, fiery redhead, he aimed a punch right at her midsection. It was an extremely basic sort of attack, and hardly worthy of the Spirit of Vengeance. He could chill the Goblin Queen to her very soul, or burn her to the bone... but sometimes a guy just feels like punching something.

This was one of those times.


Violence d10
Spirit of Vengeance d4 (+1PP)
Superhuman Strength d10
Superhuman Speed d10
Combat Master d10

Funnybone rolled 9,3,9,10,3 using d10,d4,d10,d10,d10 ((9,3,9,10,3)).

Total: 19
Effect: d10
Opps: 0
+1 PP (3 Total)

I also forgot to use "Element of Surprise" in my dice pool, but it literally cannot help me to roll a d8 after the roll I just had. I'll just let it go.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:38, Wed 01 Sept 2021.

18:17, Yesterday: Timebroker, for the NPC Madelyne, rolled 8,9,5,3,9,2 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Solo, Hell Hath No Fury, Force Field, Combat Expert. – 8,9,5,3,9,2

18:18, Yesterday: Timebroker, for the NPC Madelyne, rolled 2,7,9,7,8,2 using 1d10,1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Solo, Hell Hath No Fury, Force Field, Combat Expert. – 2,7,9,7,8,2

The Goblin Queen deflects Spider-Woman gracefully, almost gently, to sail past her. She turns back to Funnybone...

Funnybone feels the bone-crushing impact of his hellish strength against, and then through, an omega-level mutant's telekinetic forcefield and into her soft mortal flesh. She doubles over his fist, but recovers quickly-- shoving herself backward and away from him.

"My quarrel isn't with you, Rider. My cause is righteous, and my enemies are your enemies. Would anyone have prayed for vengeance for poor, old MacDonald Gargan? Would their bitter tears have cooled the fires of Hell for even a moment? Would anyone have cursed my name for taking his Carnage far, far away from anyone who didn't deserve it? We could have been allies."

"What happens next is on your head, now."

She stretches out her hand, ringed with eldritch energy. "Sorry, Eddie. This isn't how I wanted it to go."

Eddie Brock and Venom scream in unison, and then dozens of symbiote tendrils shoot out from them, encompassing innocent bystanders... and Madelyne. Her delicate features are replaced by the toothy maw of the klyntar; her pale white flesh is replaced by the oily black sheen of Venom, and her flame-red hair lengthens and begins writhing autonomously.

TOP OF ROUND

The dozens of symbiote-puppets swarm against any and everyone they can reach:

18:28, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Symbiote Swarm, rolled 4,5,7,5,3,4,4,6,5,6, 5,3,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((4,5,7,5,3,4,4,6,5,6, 5,3,6)).

Spending 1d6 from the DOOM POOL to keep a third Effort die: 19

d8 to Spider-Man, d8 to Green Goblin, d8 to Iron Man, d8 to Captain America, d6 to Bullseye, d6 to Hulk, d6 to Iron Fist

REACTIONS NEEDED: Hulk, Iron Fist

18:34, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Iron Man, rolled 7,7,1,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d10, unique dice.  Team, Cutting Edge Tech, Reflexes, Durability. – 7,7,1,4

14/1d10. That's stepped up to d10 for low Effort, stepped back to d8 for matching the Effect. d8 Physical Stress.


Iron Man goes down under the press of the symbiote swarm. Before they cover his armor completely, he calls out: "Thunderbolts! Coordinate with Captain America's people and take her down! Remember, there are innocent civilians under those slimes. No casualties."

18:39, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Capain America, rolled 2,1,6,12,4 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d12,1d10, unique dice ((2,1,6,12,4)).

Effort 18, Effect d10. Captain America takes d6 Stress.

"Heavy hitters, fliers, focus on the sorceress! Everyone else, crowd control! Someone tell Kraven we need paralytic gas, wide coverage, don't worry about friendly fire!"

18:45, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Bullseye, rolled 1,4,1,5 using 1d4,1d4,1d8,1d10, unique dice.  Team, Cold-Blooded Assassin, Weapon, Combat. – 1,4,1,5

That's 9/d4. And I get my d6 back. Bullseye takes d12 Physical Stress-- he's in serious trouble. Don't everyone start weeping all at once.


Bullseye curses bitterly, but is clearly pulling his punches against the symbiote-covered-civilians, even as he is overwhelmed.

Peter and Harry fight back-to-back, as they have so many times before.

18:50, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Spider-Man, rolled 8,7,8,3 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d12, unique dice.  Team, Friendly Neighboorhood Spider-Man, Reflexes, Acrobatics. – 8,7,8,3 16/d12. Spider-Man takes d6 Physical. (That should read "Buddy".)

18:53, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Green Goblin, rolled 1,4,1,3,5 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8, unique dice.  Buddy, Complicated Friendships, Reflexes, Durability, Combat. – 1,4,1,3,5 That's 9/d10. Green Goblin takes a d10 Stress. Harry's in trouble, too.

Green Goblin summons his Goblin Glider to him, and pulls himself and Spider-Man out of reach of the swarm, setting Spider-Man up to start laying down a heavy layer of suppressive webbing.

18:58, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Green Goblin, rolled 5,4,6,3,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d8, unique dice ((5,4,6,3,6)). 12/d8.

19:02, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC DOOM POOL, rolled 5,2,3,3,5,3 using 1d10,1d10,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((5,2,3,3,5,3)). That's 10/d10.

<orange>19:00, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Spider-Man, rolled 1,1,8,2,7,8,6 using 1d8,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8,1d8,1d6, unique dice ((1,1,8,2,7,8,6)). 16/d8.

19:02, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC DOOM POOL, rolled 5,2,3,3,5,3 using 1d10,1d10,1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6, unique dice ((5,2,3,3,5,3)). Not even close.

Spider-Man manages to web down a number of the infected bystanders, who are neither as strong nor as cunning as the real Venom. Team 4d8.

That's Maddie's action at the bottom of the panel, she nominates the Swarm, then Peter and Harry.

ACTIONS AVAILABLE: Spider-Woman, Funnybone, Iron Fist, Polaris, Tigro; Capain America, Luke Cage, Frank Castle; Iron Man, Bullseye, Kraven, The Rhino, Moonstone; The Hulk; Madelyne Pryor.

NEXT: Any Hero.

REACTIONS NEEDED: Hulk, Iron Fist; The symbiote swarm are attacking you with 19/d8.

In reply to Timebroker (msg # 36):

Quietly Tigro whispers "Time for this slacker to pay his dues."He says to himself as he begins scampering up the nearest tall thing he can reach, aiming to launch himself at the toxic center of the web. "I really hate fighting women...but for you, I'll make an exception, can't fight on your own? Have you to use your victims instead? How downright cowardly." The last word comes out as a growl as he leaps towards her claws and teeth bared ready for a fight, but aimed to dispirit as he carefully aims to strike with elegance at the symbiote to cut their link, rather than wound her!


Mystical Legend D10
Glory: My spirit yearns for flair and finesse against the brutal beastliness D10 stepped down to d8 for a +1d6 stress
FX: Claws and Fangs: Stepdown highest  die in attack pool, to add D6 to physical stress inflicted
Superhuman Reflexes D10 to react faster than she can blink
Combat Expert D8
Extra D6 from Claws and Fangs
Results:
02:30, Today: Tigro rolled 1,9,3,3,1 using d8,d10,d10,d6, d8  9 for Effort, 1 and 3 for Effect (1d8 and 1d10)

Susan next.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

01:45, Today: Timebroker, for the NPC Goblin Queen, rolled 7,5,1,6,6,7 using 1d10,1d10,1d8,1d10,1d8,1d8, unique dice ((7,5,1,6,6,7)).

14/d10. Also, an Opportunity for Tigro or anyone else who wants to take it.

"Really, now?" The Goblin Queen floats out of reach. "I'm just evening up the odds. Avengers, Thunderbolts... whoever your friends are, I haven't had this many superheroes trying to kill me since my divorce. Have you met my ex, yet? Glorious Leader of All Mutantkind? I'm sure he'd love your sense of chivalry."

"Look... I already got what I came here for, and the Son of Osborn and his Amazing Spider-Friends kept the casualties down to a minimum. Let's just all take the win, huh? The enemies of my enemies can be my friends today. Give me a few seconds to draw some circles on the sidewalk, I'll go take Utopia off the board... and both sides of your silly little 'Civil War' can deny they're grateful for it."

REACTIONS NEEDED: Hulk, Iron Fist; The symbiote swarm are attacking you with 19/d8.

Susan was sharply jarred from one perspective to another --

One moment she was having a very human dialog, with a man she knew was a hero, irregardless that he'd bought into certain ideas and precepts in his striving his to do the right thing.

And then the next they were invaded. It was an incursion in terms of what that meant in her head.    Of the sort that had decimated the place she grew up in; ended the lives of her biological parents, and many others.

Worse, it made use of innocent bystanders as the vehicle.  And that she could not abide --  she acted not in anger or outrage, ultimately, but in caring and compassion.

Her team had a number of heavy hitters, as Cap had put it -- and so she focused on the invasion part of the problem, in a way that would also protect the horde's hosts.   Invisible force sprang suddenly into existence --  curtailing, corralling, and protecting all at once --

Unseen rolled 8,7,8,8,6,3 using d12,d10,d8,d8,d6,d6.  Force field dice pool.
Force field (Godlike Endurance) + Safety + Scars of the past + Cosmic expert + Nature
Unseen rolled 1,3,2 using d6,d6,d6. for Area effect
Spending a PP to add third die to the total (8+8+8)

Total = 24; Effect dice = D10, D6, D6 ::  Attempting to force-field confine as many symbiote affected bystanders as possible.   Complication:  Trapped in force field.

1 opportunity for the DP

Polaris up next.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Sun 05 Sept 2021.